Polypropylene Bags

Polypropylene is a form of plastic used in everything from chairs, to ropes, to the top of Tic-Tac containers.

Advantages

Can be recycled

Strong and durable

Can be made from recycled materials

Chemical resistant

Very cheap to produce

Disadvantages

Low quality bags made from thin polypropylene do tend to wear out very quickly

Polypropylene is made from oil. However, if the bag is made from
recycled polypropylene, it is giving new life to what otherwise may
have entered the waste stream

Reusable Jute Bags

Jute is a plant fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads.
It's often referred to as hessian in products, such as a hessian bag.

Advantages

Biodegradable

One of the strongest natural fibers

Relatively cheap to buy

Durable

Jute crops require little water

Disadvantages

Not very resistant to moisture unless chemically treated

Jute may be grown with the use of pesticides

Most jute products are imported (travel miles = greenhouse gases)

Reusable Calico Bags

Calico is a cotton fabric that is unbleached and not fully processed.

Advantages

The lack of bleaching and processing makes it kinder to the environment as less chemicals are used

The fabric relatively cheap to produce

Cotton is very strong and durable

Disadvantages

Not water resistant unless chemically treated

Unless organically grown, cotton requires a huge amount of pesticide

The growing of cotton is very water intensive

Reusable Cotton & Canvas Bags

Cotton & Canvas bags are the most commonly used reusable bags in the United States today.

Advantages

Soft fabric

Durable and strong

Disadvantages

Unless the cotton is grown organically, high levels of pesticides are used

Fully processed cotton required extensive additional treatment

Cotton is a water intensive crop

Reusable Hemp Bags

The word "hemp" tends to stir up all sorts of association with
marijuana. However, in terms of textiles, industrial hemp is a different
plant from the same family with very little of the hallucinogenic
properties of its cousin.

Advantages

Incredibly strong, durable and rot resistant fiber

The crop can grow in poor soils with little water

Disadvantages

Can be quite expensive due to resistance on the part of governments
to allow the crop to be grown domestically, purely due to incorrect
associations with marijuana; so most hemp products in the western world
are imported. (Thankfully, this beginning to change!)

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